Technology and Acccessories

Harman

JBL Pulse

The coolest Mother’s Day tech gift ever would be the splashproof portable Bluetooth speaker: JBL Pulse 2 ($199.95). The JBL Pulse 2 puts on a hip, vibrant, customized lightshow that will “wow” kids and moms alike through a captivating light display. With exceptional sound and synchronized flashes of vivid, full-color light, the JBL Pulse 2 intensifies music for the perfect party atmosphere. Listeners can wirelessly stream songs from any smart device and watch the glow of the speaker as it illuminates the party in sync with the rhythms of her favorite hits. This would definitely make any mom the “coolest” ever!

JBL Under Armour

Whether Mom is a runner at heart, or like to relax (or both!) HARMAN has her covered J The JBL Under Armour (UA) Headphones Wireless ($180.00) are a runner’s best side-kick and the perfect gift for parents with active lifestyles. Highlights of the UA Headphones Wireless include Twistlock technology – guaranteed never to fall out, Flexsoft comfort fit, sweat proof with IPX 5 rating, up to 8 hours of playback time, a 12-month MapMyFitness Premium membership and of course, JBL signature sound. On the other hand, if lounging is a perfect priority for Mom or Dad, the JBL Everest Elite 100 ($199.95) headphones will make lounge time—whether at the beach or at home flawless, as it provides a noise cancellation feature to either tune out or tune into your surroundings.

Chamberlain MyQ Garage

Have you ever left home for a trip or even for the store and wondered – did I close the garage door? Anyone with a garage has. What do you do next? Turn the car around and check? Call a neighbor to take a look? Just let the thought gnaw at you?

Chamberlain, the leading make of garage door openers, has the solution – MyQ Garage. This device and app can be installed by anyone with a screwdriver and ladder. Once operating, MyQ Garage let’s you check if the garage door is indeed closed from any smartphone. You can even open and close it remotely to let a friend in or have a package stowed away. And the app will alert you if the door opens.

It’s the gift of peace of mind!

Kinsa Smart Thermometers

As we age, our bodies are more prone to infection. It’s important to track body temperature which might alert caregivers to a potential issue in order to take proactive steps to treatment.

Just plug in the Kinsa Smart Stick thermometer directly into your smart phone’s headphone jack (or with the optional included extension cord) and with a few taps, you can store your symptoms, temperature readings and make notes. Kinsa allows you to store up to five individual profiles in the Kinsa app. Kinsa also recently released their brand new ear thermometer (great for elders), which works wirelessly with the app, or can also be used alone.

Kinsa is available at Target stores, in Apple stores, and online (Amazon and www.kinsahealth.com).

Belkin Universal Wireless Charging Pad + Charger

With Integrated Device Technology’s dual-mode wireless power transmitters, the Belkin Universal Wireless Charging Pad + Charger delivers greater flexibility by supporting two of the leading wireless power standards. Belkin’s new Universal Wireless Charging Pad can be used to charge mobile devices or wearables that are enabled with the Wireless Power Consortium’s “Qi” standard or the Power Matters Alliance standard.

The new charging pad delivers consumers the ease of use of charging devices throughout the home or office without the need for messy cables.

Belkin’s dual-mode Universal Wireless Charging Pad is available now for an MSRP of $49.99 at belkin.com and select retail locations. It is the second wireless charging solution from Belkin along with a Qi-only Wireless Charging Pad + Charger.

IDT wireless power transmitters and receivers are in use around the world in smart phones, wearables, furniture and a wide array of accessories. The company recently introduced wireless power reference kits, making it dramatically easier for engineers to incorporate wireless charging into their product designs.

Urban Armor Gear: Trooper Series

Whether there is a desire to replace the wallet for good or the option to travel light on occasion, UAG presents a solution – the Trooper Series case. Holding up to four cards, the case simultaneously provides drop-tested protection and a hidden compartment to keep your cards secure. The Trooper allows you to focus on your adventures instead of worrying about pocket clutter.

More than just a case, Trooper has been created to be the ultimate dual utility tool, combining a rugged case and wallet into one. Holding up to 4 cards, the versatile Trooper series case provides drop-tested protection and a hidden compartment to keep your cards secure during your adventures. With an aesthetic appeal in mind, UAG continues to keep their signature sleek form with a feather-light impact resistant core, uncompromised access to ports, and over sized tactile buttons for ease of use.

When you are away from an outlet you have to think twice about what apps and programs you can run on your smartphone or tablet. Popular games and apps, even making long calls can rapidly drain battery power. Instead of sacrificing the functionality of your devices just to preserve battery life, myCharge has created the RazorMax to keep multiple devices powered at once without having to carry around a device that feels and looks like a brick.

The minimalist RazorMax can charge smartphones and tablets at the same time but is only four inches by two and half inches in size. It¹s sleek anodized aluminum finish also makes it appeal to any tastes and it packs enough power to provide 27 hours of extra battery life.

Evutec

Evutec is a new brand of protective cases that use innovative materials like bamboo, flowers, denim and even grass to construct cell phone cases that are light, strong, durable and sleek.

Without getting overly technical, Evutec uses a special technology that essentially flattens any material into an almost paper-thin cover. (0.7mm thick!) The case is then lined with Dupont Kevlar fibers which make it 5 Xs stronger than steel – practically bulletproof. Ultimately their covers don’t add any extra weight or thickness to your phone.

Evutec products retail between $45 and $500 ($500 is for a made-to-order diamond and seashell case they are launching) and can be found nationwide at Apple locations and Best Buy as well as online at Evutec.com.

Spring is a time for new starts and Spire – the only wearable that measures mindfulness and productivity by tracking breathing patterns reflecting our state of mind – is the best tool for increasing mindfulness, modifying negative behaviors throughout the day and promoting great holistic health, productivity and well-being. Available at Amazon, Apple.com and Spire.io ($149).

DxO One — A mini DSLR quality camera that fits in your pocket and connects to your iPhone for instant social sharing. Perfect for the Mom or Dad who loves taking photos of the kids and sharing on social media, or for the grad who’s going on a backpacking trip and wants quality photos without carrying around a heavy DSLR (Retails for $499).

Roku – Make it fast, easy and fun for Mom, Dad, or grads feed their TV binge watching addiction. Get the visual rush of 4K streaming with the new Roku 4 ($129) or choose the latest and greatest Roku 3 ($99) with say it, stream it voice control and private listening for your HD TV. For half the price, pick the Roku Streaming Stick ($49) that fits in the back of your TV, and can be unplugged and brought to other rooms. You can also go big with a new line of Roku 4K TVs (from $229).